2003 Chrysler Town & Country Complaint Log

WHEN STARTING OUT IN DRIVE, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL CASEIN A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. MY WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRY AGAIN I NEVER KNOW WHEN MY WHEELTURN WHEN I AM DRIVING MYSELF AND MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR. PLEASE HELP ! *TR

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING A WHINE/GROAN WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY DECIDED THAT I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN WHILE GETTING MY TIRES CHANGED IT WAS THEN SWITCHED TO I NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING RACK. EVERY GARAGE TOLD ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 1500 DOLLARS LATER I AM WITH A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, RESERVOIR, RACK, COOLER HOSE, AND FIN PACKED HOSE AND STILL THE WHINE AND SHUDDER AND GROAN WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS OR INTO PARKING SPACES. I AM IN TEARS AND FEEL HELPLESS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT'S IN GORGEOUS CONDITION, HOWEVER TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IF I WANT IT ANYMORE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. AFTER SPENDING 20K + ON A VEHICLE, WHERE IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND PULSATED WHEN DEPRESSED. ALL OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MADE A GRATING AND SCRAPING SOUND AND WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OF JIGGLING TO GET IT BACK IN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CYLINOID WAS REPLACED. THE GASKET AND SEAL ON THE WATER PUMP AND THE ACCESSORY BELT WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE LIFTGATE WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING RECALLS WERE REFERENCED: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 03E053000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 04V386000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTIONS), 05V134000 (LATCHES:LOCKS:LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE LOCK), AND 06E022000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLAED AFTER 1 YEAR AND 8 MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND SEPERPENTIN BELT WERE REPLACED.

HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE BLOWN TIRE RIPPED OUT THE BODY WIRING HARNESS AND THE INTEGRATED POWER MODULE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING ULTIMATE POWER FAILURE. THE WIRES WERE SHREDDED AND WRAPPED AROUND THE RIM. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BY CHRYSLER ALLOWING THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE VEHICLE TO BE PLACED DIRECTLY OVER THE WHEEL WELL. THIS CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

OUR DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR COMES AJAR WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS LOCKED. *TR

BOTH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 58,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TOWN & COUNTRY MADE BY CHRYSLER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VAN WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT. *TR

GOING APPROX 50 MPH ON A SUBURBAN HIGHWAY WITH SEVERAL STOPLIGHTS, THE ACCELERATOR SEEMINGLY "STUCK", RESULTING IN GREAT DIFFICULTY SLOWING DOWN. STOPPING THE CAR WAS NOT POSSIBLE. RPMS WERE VERY HIGH, AND COULD NOT BE LOWERED. WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND GRADUALLY APPLYING BRAKES, THEN TURNING THE CAR OFF. CONFIRMED BY TOW-TRUCK DRIVER AND CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE THUS FAR TO GET THE RPMS TO SLOW DOWN. IF YOU START THE CAR NOW, EVEN IN PARK, THE RPMS IMMEDIATELY REV VERY HIGH. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDERGOING DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP. *TR

GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A SUBURBAN HIGHWAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR SEEMINGLY STUCK, RPMS WOULD NOT LOWER, RESULTING IN GREAT DIFFICULTY SLOWING DOWN. STOPPING THE CAR WAS NOT POSSIBLE. BRAKING WOULD ONLY SLOW THE CAR SOMEWHAT, NOT STOP THE CAR. WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING BRAKES. EVEN THEN RPMS REMAINED VERY HIGH. INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE PROBLEM WAS "PROBABLY" CAUSED BY ANOTHER CAR SERVICE COMPANY CLEANING THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR AND DAMAGING IT. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT 100% SURE BECAUSE ONCE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE RPMS TO COME DOWN DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DIM AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY HAVE STARTED TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. ONCE WHEN TURN SIGNALS HAD BEEN ON AND NOW JUST WHEN TURN THE LIGHTS ON. HAD IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND THAT APPARENTLY STILL HASN'T STOPPED THE PROBLEM. IT LASTS FROM A FEW SECONDS TO ALMOST A MINUTE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THEN FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE O2 SENSOR FAILED APPROXIMATELY TEN MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,993.

HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND STAY OUT FOR 30-90 SECONDS AT A TIME. HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. LEADING UP TO THIS,THE LIGHTS HAD BEEN FLICKERING OR DIMMING ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND SEVERAL DEALERS, AND ALL OF THEM CLAIM NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT OCCASIONALLY STAYS ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND ALSO LIGHTS UP RANDOMLY DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DIMMED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V192000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) FOR THE 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,430. UPDATED 01/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

THE VAN WAS MODIFIED BY BRAUN CORPORATION. AN AFTER MARKET FUEL TANK WITH AN UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE FUEL PUMP MOUNT (THEY MODIFIED THE TANK WHICH IS NOT A CHRYSLER TANK AND PUT A MOUNTING O-RING IN PLACE OF THE STANDARD LOCKING MECHANISM) IS THE ISSUE. IT FAILS ABOUT EVERY 4 YEARS AND CAUSES A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FUEL CAN SPILL OR LEAK OUT OF THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK. WHEN THE SEAL FAILS, GAS FUMES ENTER THE CABIN. CONTACT FOR DETAILED INFORMATION AND HEAVY FREQUENCY OF REPEATED REPAIRS ON THIS AND MANY OTHER VEHICLES JUST LIKE THIS ONE. GIBSON AUTO ELECTRIC 211 SE 11TH AVE PORTLAND, OR 97214 (503) 231-4100. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKES ARE FAILING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAKES SQUEAKING NOISES EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS WERE VERY DIM AND THE ROAD VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALREADY RECALLED ON PREVIOUS CHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUT NOT THE 2003 TOWN AND COUNTRY. DEALER WILL BE HAPPY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM (FOR $90). *TR

THE BRACKET THE HOLDS THE CARRYING BEARING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO HANG DOWN AND ALMOST TOUCH THE GROUND. AS FOR THE CORRECTION, I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. THERE WAS A QUICK FIX TO THE DRIVE SHAFT BRACKET, BUT NOW THERE IS A VERY LOUD RATTLE IN THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TR

CAR ENGINE SHUTDOWN IN TRAFFIC BUT WOULD RESTART. ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND JUMP STARTED WITHOUT TURNING KEY. PLASTIC WIRE INSULATION BURNING SMELL NOTED WHEN RETURNED TO DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE DELIVERED TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. TECH REPORT VERIFIED BROKEN AND CORRODED WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS: "UPON INSPECTION FOUND FAULT CODE P1389 NO ASD RELAY OUTPUT VOLTAGE AT PCM & P1388 = AUTO SHUTDOWN RELAY CONTROL CIRCUIT. REMOVED D PCM WIRE HARNESS AND FOUND ASD OUTPUT FROM PCM BEING LOST. TRACED BN/WT WIRE FROM PCM CONNECTOR TO IPM. FOUND WIRE CUT AND FULL OF CORROSION. CUT OUT BAD SECTION OF WIRE AND SPLICED NEW SECTION IN. REINSTALLED ALL COMPONENTS ARE VERIFIED REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS A CRACKED BRAKE PISTON. THE CALIPER, BRAKE LINES, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, AND FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS THE FAILED PARTS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,591.

I OWN A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN OCT. OF 2003 FROM MORTIZ IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN IT HAS BEEN USED FOR MOSTLY LONG DISTANCE TRIPS AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. AT THE END OF JANUARY 2007 MY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK STARTED LEAKING. ON FEB. 15, 2007 I BOUGHT A NEW SOLENOID PACK FROM MADISON SQUARE CHRYSLER IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. I INSTALLED THIS ITEM MYSELF BEING THAT ALL THAT WAS INVOLVED WAS UNBOLTING THE OLD ONE AND INSTALLING THE NEW ONE. ON FEB. 20, 2007 WITH MILEAGE OF 87918 I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED BY THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEALER AS WELL AS OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE CHECKS. ON FEB. 28, 2007 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 1, 2007 WITH MILEAGE OF 87990 FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SERVICE COSTING $1033.42. ON APRIL 21, 2007 WITH MILEAGE OF 89955 I HAD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE VAN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION AT THIS TIME TO GET THIS RESOLVED BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *JB

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURES ON 2.28.07, I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI WITH 56,000 MILES FROM ARLINGTON ACURA IN PALATINE, IL AFTER A CARCHEX INSPECTION & TEST DRIVE. UPON DRIVING HOME TO MINNESOTA THAT DAY ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAYS, I ENCOUNTERED TWO MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS: FAILURE, CONSEQUENCES & REPAIRS 1. SHUDDERING & LEAKING RACK & PINION - DEALER ADVISED THESE ARE COMMON FAILURES FOR THIS MODEL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT FOR $800 ASAP BECAUSE A DRY CYLINDER WILL LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER IT'S 7/70 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS WHEN I GET THE MONEY. 2. JERKING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR - DURING FOUR VISITS, DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIND CAUSE, SPENDING $3,000 IN WARRANTY REPAIRS. THEY SAID CHRYSLER'S STAR TECH SERVICE TOLD THEM THIS WAS "A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CURRENT FIX." A SUBSEQUENT E-MAIL FROM ME (THE OWNER) TO CHRYSLER RESULTED IN A BOILERPLATE LETTER SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS A DEALER ISSUE. MY WIFE HAS CANCER AND A HEART CONDITION AND CANNOT BEAR THE STRAIN OF A MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION ON HER "NEW" CAR. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WHEN ENGAGING THE SECOND GEAR, AND IT SLIPPED BACK INTO FIRST. THE VEHICLE JERKED HARSHLY EACH TIME TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS, IT EVENTUALLY SHIFTED GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THAT THEY WILL NOTIFY HIM WHEN THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS THAT HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERS ENGINEER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.*AK UPDATED 02/22/07

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, HEARD A CLICKING SOUND, AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED WITHOUT DUPLICATING THE FAILURE. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION CARRIER, BUT INDICATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP COULD ALSO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOR THREE WEEKS AND CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HOT OR COLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WHEN THE STALLING OCCURRED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR WAS LIT. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FREQUENT STALLING INCIDENTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT OCCURRED AT 1 AM. UPDATED 2/22/2007 -NOW THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A ROUGH START CONDITION. THE STEERING HAD BECOME VERY TIGHT AND MAKES NOISE. THE RADIO WILL NOT PLAY AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN IT IS ON. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE HORN WILL NOT SOUND. REAR WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONTACT LOST STEERING POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING ON AN ICY PATCH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT TRIED TO TURN RIGHT INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. DUE TO THE STEERING LOCKING THE VEHICLE SPUN TO THE REAR END AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES AND RETURNED TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL DUE TO THEIR INJURIES. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE VEHICLE CAMPAIGN# 04V386000 WITH STEERING, HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST; HOSE, & PIPING CONNECTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE RECALL THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE RECALL WAS HONORED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,914.*AK

POWER LIFTGATE FAILURE. UNIT WILL OPEN WITH SWITCH OR KEY FOB, UNIT WILL NOT CLOSE. ATTEMPT TO CLOSE MANUALLY AND WILL NOT PULL DOWN. PUSHED UP AND THEN LIFTGATE RELEASED WITHOUT NOTICE. PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE RESULTED. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS APPROX 35 TO 40 DEGREES. ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIME OVER PAST FEW DAYS WITH PROBLEM PERSISTING. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NO RECALL EXISTS. *JB

THE WEATHER HAS TURNED COLD AGAIN AND THE MOANING NOISE FROM THE P.S. PUMP IS BACK. I HAD A BRAND-NEW P.S. PUMP, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, AND TENSIONER INSTALLED A WEEK AGO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD BELTS, HOSES, PUMPS, AND EVEN STEERING RACKS REPLACED AND THE MOANING NOISE WILL NOT GO AWAY. I'M NOT SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. I SUPPOSE I CAN JUST IGNORE THE NOISE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ONES COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I THINK ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER MINI-VAN. *JB

AT LOW OUT-SIDE TEMPERATURE THE POWER STEERING FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE AND A TURN IS ABOUT TO OCCUR, A WHINING NOISE IS NOTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RESPOND UNLESS THE ENGINE IS ACCELERATED, OCCASIONALLY LOSING CONTROL AT TURNING. THIS EVENT OCCURS ONLY IN WINTERTIME WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 70 DEGREE F AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. AS OUT-SIDE TEMPERATURE INCREASE (ABOUT 80 DEGREE F) WHINING NOISE GOES AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS PERFECTLY. THIS IS NOT NOTICE DURING ANY OTHER SEASON TIME. ONLY AT WINTER TIME WHEN THE OUT-SIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 70 DEGREE F AND AS TEMPERATURE KEEPS DROPPING, IT BECOMES WORSE. THE POWER FLUID IS CHANGED PERIODICALLY TO ALLEVIATE THE WHINING AND THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED ABOUT THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 12/2006. *TR

POSSIBLE DEFECT 2003 CHRYSLER T & C LIMITED - AIR BAG FAILURE - OFFSET LEFT FRONT CRASH AT APPROX. 25 MPH - ALL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY - FORCE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK LEFT FRONT AXEL AND UPPER CONTROL ARM. DEALER NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. *NM

RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT IN THIRD-ROW SEAT OF TOWN AND CHRYSLER MINI-VAN DOESN'T RETRACT. SAME BELT WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2005 AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. *JB

AT 60,000 MILES, ENGINE IS LOSING COOLANT. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HOT. PULLED OVER, LET ENGINE COOL DOWN, AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO COOLANT. VEHICLE ENGINE OIL WAS RECENTLY CHANGED BY WALMART. AND TO MY SURPRISE, WALMART'S BEST OIL CHANGE DOES NOT REQUIRE CHECKING COOLANT. ENGINE OIL WAS CLEAN AND FULL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING SYSTEM STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHILE TURNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED TO PREVENT A MAJOR FAILURE DUE TO NOTICED METAL SHAVINGS. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD LITTLE USE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS SAFETY DEFECT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GROANING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL DECREASED DUE TO A LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEALS FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AND THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,500. UPDATED01/08/08 *BF UPDATED

PURCHASED 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY IN JUNE OF 2004 AND HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. A/C HAS WENT OUT TWICE, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, NOW VAN HAS LOST POWER AND THEY ARE REPLACING VALVE SPRINGS AND OTHER INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. I HAVE HAD NOW RECALL NOTICES OR NOTIFICATIONS FROM DEALER. *JB

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP AND ON SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *NM

CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT WENT INTO REVERSE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK THE CAR IN TRANSMISSION, ENGINE , AND OTHER PARTS WAS FOUND OUT TO BE OK OR WAS REPLACED OR FIXED. TOOK CAR BACK OUT AND IT IS STILL GEARSHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL TO REVERSE WHEN THE CONSOLE STATES THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. *NM

2003 (30,741 MILES) CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. *NM

NOISE STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WATER INDICATOR WENT TO HOT. PULLED OVER AND CAR WAS STEAMING. AFTER ALLOWING CAR TO COOL, CHECKED ANTI-FREEZE WHICH WAS LOW. REFILLED AND STARTED CAR. ANTI-FREEZE WAS POURING OUT OF COOLANT TUBING AT BOTTOM AND TOWARDS REAR OF ENGINE. SHUT CAR OFF. INSPECTED TUBING. TUBING WAS RUSTED OUT. CALLED DEALER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED TUBING UNDER WARRANTY ( 40 MILES REMAINING). DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT 10 CARS WERE BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THIS WEEK. *JB

REAR TAIL LAMP LENS SEPARATE FROM THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT HAVING ANY TAIL LIGHTS. *NM

ON 6/14/2006, WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN WE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE KNOCK AND LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. UPON CHECKING THE OIL, IT WAS FOUND TO BE "FULL" AND TRANSPARENT ON THE DIPSTICK. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER 5 STAR DEALER WHERE DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND IS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURERS 7 YEAR, 70000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED "DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE", WITH A BUILDUP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. WE WERE BEWILDERED BY THIS PRONOUNCEMENT, AS WE HAD ALWAYS DONE ALL SCHEDULED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ASKED THAT THE OIL PAN NOT BE DUMPED AND THAT A SAMPLE OF OIL BE TESTED, AS THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS WITHIN THE LAST 250 MILES AND THEY WERE CLAIMING THAT THE "OIL WAS FILTHY". WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE THE DEALER WITH 5 DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES, AND WE TOLD THEM THAT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. WE WERE ABLE TO FAX TO THEM WITHIN 28 HOURS, THE 5 DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES THEY REQUESTED, AND ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT MORE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. BEFORE THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE DEALER, OUR WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED ON 6/16/2006. WE AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT MORE DOCUMENTATION OF FURTHER OIL CHANGES WAS FORTHCOMING AND WE WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CLAIM WAS BEING DENIED. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION WAS FAXED TO THE DEALER VERIFYING OIL CHANGES ROUGHLY EVERY 3000 MILES. WE HAVE PROOF OF 17 DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES IN 50,000 MILES - MORE THAN REQUIRED. AGAIN, OUR WARRANTY CLAIM HAS BEEN DENIED. CHRYSLER HAS A HISTORY OF ENGINES FAILING AT ROUGHLY THE SAME MILEAGE, BLAMING THE CONSUMER FOR "LACK OF MAINTENANCE" AND THEN DENYING THE WARRANTY CLAIMS DESPITE PROOF OF MAINTENANCE. SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENED TO THIS ENGINE, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MAINTENANCE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE COMPUTER WAS DIRTY. AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS CLEANED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.

I BOUGHT A 2003 TOWN & COUNTRY IN MAY '06. IN JUNE OF '06 I WOULD HERE A WHINING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT WORSE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD AND THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THAT IS WAS GOING TO BE OVER $1100.00. I DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE VAN FOR A MONTH YET AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN WILLING TO FIX IT. SO WE ARE DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM BUT THE MORE WE DRIVE IT THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT THEY KNEW THAT PART WAS BAD WHEN THEY SOLD US THAT VEHICLE BECAUSE HAVING IT FOR LESS THAN MONTH I'M SURE THAT I DIDN'T PUT MUCH WEAR AND TEAR ON IT. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE HOSE HAD COME OFF OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH DID NOT PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

LOW MOANING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. MORE PRONOUNCED DURING COLD WEATHER AND WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALER TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE BAD (AFTER 25K MILES). REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE STILL THERE. OVER TIME THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER. COULDN'T STAND THE NOISE ANY LONGER AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER 20 MONTHS LATER AT 45K MILES. I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, AND TENSIONER NEEDED REPLACING. THE WATER PUMP WAS UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED EVERYTHING AND MOANING NOISE RETURNED THE NEXT DAY (IT SOUNDED WORSE). DEALER DRAINED P.S. FLUID AND ADDED P.S. FLUID CONDITIONER AND THE NOISE IS NOW GONE. WHILE LISTENING FOR THE MOANING NOISE TO RETURN I'M HEARING NOISES I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE. I WONDER IF THE P.S. FLUID WAS THE PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING. IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME OVER NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MILES AN HOUR, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR VENT WINDOW IN MY 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY EXPLODED ALL BY ITSELF INTO THE VAN LEAVING BROKEN PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER THREE SMALL CHILDREN BUCKLED INTO CAR SEATS. NONE OF THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NOT A MAJOR TEMP. CHANGE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDOW FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS CRACKS IN THE WINDOW. LUCKILY, ALL OF MY CHILDREN WERE OK. I REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND TO THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP. I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM REPORTED HERE WITH NHTSA. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE A CHILD OR A PERSON IS CRITICALLY INJURED. *JB

IN MARCH OF 2006 WE NOTICED THAT OUR TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN WAS STEERING SLOPPY, LOSE AND HAD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE STEERING RACK. AFTER HAVING THE CAR INSPECT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEER RACK HAD FAILED WITH ONLY 53000 MILES ON IT. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. WE HAD THE STEERING RACK REPLACED AND THIS YEAR IN MARCH , THE SECOND RACK FAILED, WHICH WE ALSO HAD REPLACED. IN JULY OF THIS YEAR THE THIRD STEERING RACK FAILED, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY HAVE HAD "PROBLEMS" WITH THESE STEERING RACKS. *TR

RACK AND PINION UNIT ON 2003 TOWN AND COUNTRY WITH 42000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. *JB

BRAKES (PADS AND ROTORS) WEAR OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS. *NM